How Collingwood superfan Jeff ‘Joffa’ Corfe inspired Scott Pendlebury and the Pies
SCOTT Pendlebury has revealed Magpies players have held weekly ‘cultural sessions’ to learn the history of the club and says a visit from superfan Jeff ‘Joffa’ Corfe provided the team with extra motivation to ‘play the Collingwood way’.
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SCOTT Pendlebury has revealed the Magpies have held weekly “cultural sessions” throughout the season, looking back on the history of the club and says a visit from superfan Jeff ‘Joffa’ Corfe provided the team with extra motivation to “play the Collingwood way”.
In a special BOB interview to air on Fox Footy during the Pies’ clash with GWS, the Collingwood captain says Joffa’s passion for the club had rubbed off on his teammates.
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“Joffa came in and he spent an hour with the group and his story is unbelievable,” Pendlebury told Western Bulldogs champion Bob Murphy.
“The amount of motivation that we drew from understanding what makes Joffa Joffa — the passion he has for the club and how he calls it his family and to hear how much we mean to him.
“I think all the boys understood … if you didn’t know that already, how important it is that you go out there and play the Collingwood way.”
Corfe had a tough upbringing, leaving home at the age of 14 and struggling through periods of homelessness.
He has since been involved in a number of benevolent causes including walks and rides to raise funds for epilepsy research, support for RecLink football and a charity football match to aid those affected by the Queensland floods.
Joffa is the Pies’ cheerleading talisman, famous for his golden locks and out-there kits, often donning a lairy gold jacket when Collingwood has the game safely in their grasp — right up until it was retired after the 2010 premiership. He’s even had a movie based on his life made.
Pendlebury said past champions had visited the club on an almost weekly basis for the cultural sessions.
“Every week there’s almost a little cultural session that we run that’s looking back at history, moments of the football club, what’s shaped the club,” he said.
“It’s shaping this side this year. Players have to bring people in or tell stories about certain things that have shaped this football club.
“It’s been unreal hearing from past greats of the football club about what they valued as sides and it’s just reinforcement for what we’re trying to do, but it’s so good to hear.”
Pendlebury’s passion for the club is unquestioned, likening running out in front of a packed crowd as like “Christmas”.
“It’s that good, it is Christmas with all the presents you ever wanted, all there sitting there for you, It is the best feeling that you can get.”
*Collingwood vs GWS is on Fox Footy from 6.30pm.
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